The Higher Canadian Institute for Business
and Engineering Technology
Quality Assurance Unit
Course Specification
Course Name: Embedded Systems
Course Code: ELE 413
I. Basic Course Information
Program(s) on which the course is given: Communication Department.
Department offering the course: Electrical Engineering
Academic level: 5th level
Semester in which course is offered: Varies
Course pre-requisite(s): ELE 321
Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours Through: 4
Lecture
2.0
Tutorial*
2.0
Practical*
0.0
Total
4.0
Approval date of course specification: September 2014
II. Overall Aims of Course
Introduction to embedded systems. Introduction to HDL: entities and architecture,
RTL, structural, dataflow and behavioral description. FPGA Structure: architecture,
configurable logic blocks, routing, lookup tables, memory and I/O blocks. FPGA
design flow. Sequential processes and finite state machines. Soft processors, busses
and peripherals. Embedded design tools structure and programming.
III. Program ILOs covered by course
Program Intended Learning Outcomes (By Code)
Knowledge &
Intellectual Skills
Professional Skills
Understanding
K2,K4, K5, K14,
K16, K17, K19
I1, I2, I3, I6, I14,
I15.
P3, P7, P12, P13,
P16
General
Skills
G4
1
The Higher Canadian Institute for Business
and Engineering Technology
Quality Assurance Unit
Course Specification
IV. Intended Learning Outcomes of Course (ILOs)
a. Knowledge and Understanding
On completing the course, students should be able to:
k. 1 Identify and demonstrate competence in university level mathematics, natural
sciences, engineering fundamentals, and specialized engineering knowledge
appropriate to the program.
k. 2 Relate practical application of theories in different fields through projects and
field studies.
k. 3Identify the engineering problems, data collection and interpretation
k. 4Describe the needs of commercial risk evaluation;
k. 5Recognize the analyzing and design of electronic circuits and components;
k. 6Classify the fabrication of Integrated circuits
b. Intellectual/Cognitive Skills
On completing the course, students should be able to:
i.1 Use brainstorming and innovation techniques to deal with problems and to develop new
idea.
i.2 Demonstrate and organize tasks into a structured form.
i.3 Identify the problem solving and design.
i.4 List the components, systems, and processes.
i.5 Describe the analogue communication, mobile communication, coding, and
decoding systems.
i.6 Resolve the electronic systems for certain specific function using the right
equipment.
c. Practical/Professional Skills
On completing the course, students should be able to:
p.1 Formulate and use the appropriate mathematical methods for modeling and
analyzing problems in electrical, electronic and communications engineering.
p.2 Design the systems, components and processes and test the design ideas in the
laboratory or
through simulation, with technical analysis and critical
evaluation of results.
p.3 Prepare technical reports.
p.4 Identify mathematical methods or IT tools.
p.5 Practice system performance.
d. General and Transferable Skills
On completing the course, students should be able to:
g.1 Manipulate, sort and present the information in a variety of ways.
V. Course Matrix Contents
Main Topics / Chapters
1- Basics of Digital design
2-
Hardware description
languages
Duration
(Weeks)
Course ILOs Covered by Topic
(By ILO Code)
K&U
I.S.
P.S.
G.S.
1
k1
i1
1
k1, k2
i2, i3
2
The Higher Canadian Institute for Business
and Engineering Technology
Quality Assurance Unit
Course Specification
3- VHDL modelling
2
k3
i3
p1
4- Programmable devices
2
k4
i5
p2, p3
5- FPGA architecture
2
k3, k4,
k5
i4, i5
6- ASM and State Machines
1
k2, k5
i1
7- Interfacing and timing
1
k6
i1
8- Performance enhancement
1
k5
i2
p4
9- Testability issues
1
k5
i5, i6
p5
10- Formal Verification
1
k6
i3, i5
Net Teaching Weeks
g1
g1
13
VI. Course Weekly Detailed Topics / hours / ILOs
Week
No.
Sub-Topics
Total
Hours
Contact Hours
Theoretical
Practical
Hours
Hours*
1
Basics of Digital design
4
3
-
2
Hardware description languages
7
3
4
3
VHDL modelling
7
3
4
7
3
4
4, 5, 6 Programmable devices
7
Midterm Exam
8
FPGA architecture
7
3
4
9
ASM and State Machines
7
3
4
10
Interfacing and timing
7
3
4
11
Performance enhancement
7
3
4
12
Testability issues
7
3
4
13
Formal Verification
4
3
-
15
Final Exam
Total Teaching Hours
3
The Higher Canadian Institute for Business
and Engineering Technology
Quality Assurance Unit
Course Specification
VII. Teaching and Learning Methods
Teaching/Learning
Method
Lectures & Seminars
Tutorials
Computer lab Sessions
Practical lab Work
Reading Materials
Web-site Searches
Research & Reporting
Problem Solving /
Problem-based Learning
Projects
Independent Work
Group Work
Case Studies
Presentations
Simulation Analysis
Course ILOs Covered by Method (By ILO Code)
K&U
All
k3, k5, k6
Intellectual
Skills
All
All
Professional
Skills
All
All
General
Skills
g1
p2, p3
p3
g1
p3
All
Others (Specify):
VIII. Assessment Methods, Schedule and Grade Distribution
Course ILOs Covered by Method
(By ILO Code)
Assessment
Method
K&U
I.S.
P.S.
G.S.
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Quizzes
Course Work
Report Writing
Case Study
Analysis
Oral
Presentations
Practical
Group Project
Individual Project
k1, k2,
k3
All
k1, k2,
k3, k4
All
Assessment
Weight /
Percentage
i1, i2, i4
20 %
All
50 %
i3, i5, i6
10 %
All
p3
All
p2, p3
g1
g1
Week
No.
5%
5%
5%
5%
Others (Specify):
4
The Higher Canadian Institute for Business
and Engineering Technology
Quality Assurance Unit
Course Specification
IX. List of References
 Fundamentals of Digital Logic with Verilog Design, Brown,
Stephen and Vranesic, Zvonko. mcgraw-Hill Higher Education,
ISBN: 0-07-283878-7
Course notes

 Digital System Design with VHDL by Mark Zwolinski
 FPGA Prototyping by VHDL Examples: Xilinx Spartan-3
Version Author Pong P. Chu Publisher John Wiley & Sons,
2011 ISBN 1118210603,
Recommended books
 Digital Electronics and Design with VHDL Author Volnei A.
Pedroni Publisher Morgan Kaufmann, 2008 ISBN
0080557554, 9780080557557
Essential Text Books
Periodicals, Web sites, 
etc …
X. Facilities required for teaching and learning
big sized lecture rooms - computers (Personal & Notebook) - data show -, FPGA
demonstration boards, Design and simulation software tools (XILINX ISE, ModelSim)
Course coordinator: Dr. Nahla El Araby
Head of Department: Associate Professor Tamer Abdel Rahman
Date: September 2014
5